Bicycle



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheen; 1.

G. W. MEIGS & J. GVZIEGLER. BICYCLE.

No. 474,327. Patented May a, 1892.

'(NoMoaeL 2 Sh ets-Sheet 2.

G. W. MEIGS & J. G. ZIEGLER.

. BICYCLE.

No. 474,327. Patented May 3, 1892.

QM WW I at foznmg x memes Y I cvwew ow UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. MEIGS AND JOHN GEORGE ZIEGLER, OF'READING, PENNSYLVA- NIA;SAID MEIGS ASSIGNOR TO EDIVARD E. ZIEGLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, rPENNSYLVANIA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 474,327, dated May 3,1892.

Application filed May 29. 1891. Serial No. 394.485. 'No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 1, or to a pin d especially provided for iton Be it known that we, GEORGE IV. MEIGS the fork, as in Fig. 4, whilethe endsfand f and JOHN GEORGE ZIEGLER, citizens of the extend above andbelow the fulcrumed point United States, residing at Reading, in theandbearupon the fork branches,respectively,

5 county of Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have with a pressure tendingto straighten the invented certain Improvements in Bicycles, of hangersto correspond with the center line of which the following is aspecification. the fork. The angular position of the hang- Our inventionrelates particularly to bicyers, however, with respect to the fork ismaincles;-anditconsistsincertainimprovementsin tained at a minimum by anoffset 6 on the 10 details whereby the comfort and convenience hanger,which comes in contact with a stopof the user are enhanced,and theconstruction pin (1 projecting from the fork below the at the same timesimplified andimproved and pivot d. Another offset 6 is also providedthe cost reduced. on the hanger to limit its possible pivotal Theseimprovements are fully described in movement in the other direction, theedge e [5 connection with the accompanying drawings, of the hangerbetween the offsets being curved and are specifically pointed out in theclaims. from the center (1', as shown, so that the same Figure 1 is aside elevation of a Safety bistop-pin d serves to limit the movement incycle having our improvements adapted either direction. This limitationof motion thereto. Fig. 2 is a detailview of the adj ustis decidedlyadvantageous both on account of 20 ing mechanism for the rear axle, andFig. 3 maintaining the hanger at a proper angle, is a modification ofthe same. Fig. 4 shows even when all weight is removed, and of limitindetail our improved spring-fork provided ing the maximum pivotalmovement, whether with a slightly-modified form of spring. Figs. due tomounting an obstacle or a broken 5 andfi are detail views of the saddlemechspring. In the latter emergency the unbroken 25 anism, showing thesaddle adjusted to differspring upon the opposite side can be easily 7cut positions on its stand and the manner of removed, its attachmentbeing entirely indeadjusting the tension upon the seat. Saddles pendentof other parts, and the mechanism of slightly-different constructionareindicated can be operated in the same manner as though in the twoviews. Fig.- 7 is a cross-section provided with a rigid fork. Moreover,it can 0 throughX Xof Fig. 6. Fig. 8is adetail view be readily convertedinto a rigid fork conof thehandlein cross-section. Fig.9is an ennectionwhenever desired by removing the larged view showing the pedal-crankconnecsprings, which can be conveniently carried tion. and replaced atany time.

The frame B of the machine may be of any In Fig. 4 the spring F, insteadof being 5 ordinary construction, as also the front and made of wirecoiled to engage the fulcrurnrear forks D and 0, except as to the meansof pin and having its ends bent to engage the connecting these forks totheir axles a and a edges of the fork branches and hangers, reof thefront and rear wheels A and A, respectively, as shown in Fig. 1, isrepresented spectively, which means are peculiar and adas formed ofplate-steel having curled ends 40 Vantageous in several importantrespects, engaging projecting pins d and 6 Eviwhich we will nowdescribe. The branches dently, however, there is no substantial differofthe front fork have heretofore been conence between the two forms ofsprings. nected to the axle by means of links orhang- Referring now tothe rear end of the maers, the pivotal movement of which has been chine,the driving-wheel A is rotated in the 5 controlled by different forms ofsprings. In usual manner through the medium of cranks 5 ourconstruction, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, G, sprocket-wheels S and S, anda chain conthe hangers E are pivoted at d to the fork necting them. Inorder to take up the slack arms or branches, and a spring F on each sidein the chain, which becomes necessary, owis fulcrumed about midway ofits length, ing to its gradual lengthening in service, the 50 either tothe projecting pivot-pin d, as in Fig. bearing ends 0 of the rear forkhave been provided with slots 0, in which the axle a is supported, andmeans for adjusting the axle horizontally have been used. IIeretofore,however, it has required considerable care and skill on the part of theOperator to satisfactorily adjust the axle, owing to the evidentnecessity of setting it practically at right angles to the verticalplane of the machineframe. Indeed the slightest variation from this trueposition is a great disadvantage, both in the operation and wear of themachine. The means of adjustment heretofore provided have been veryunsatisfactory, because they do not provide for securing a positiveparallel movement of the axle in tightening the chain. I

,Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the arms H, of sheet metal and exactlysimilar in form, are secured eccentrically to the axle adjacent to eachfork branch. The circularedges h struck from the center h arepreferably'notched or serrated slightly, as shown, so as to engage pins0 projecting from the face of each fork branch. In order to movethe axleand tighten the chain, the nuts on the ends of the axle are firstloosened,as usual. The axle is then turned in the direction of the arrowand the contact of the edges h with the pins 0 presses the axle backwarduniformly at both ends until the slack in the chain is taken up, whenthe end nuts are again tightened, thus com- 'pleting the operationwithout requiring any skill or any examination to determine thecorrectness of the adjustment, which is more perfect than is possible,even after exercising the greatest care and skill with the ordinarymeans.

The modified arms H (shown in Fig. 3) operate in substantially the sameway as the ec centric arms H, except that the rearward movement of theaxle is not effected by the act of turning it, as above described; butthe axle is merely released by turning it sufficiently to lift the armsout of engagement with the pins 0 The only care required with thisconstruction is to see that the same notches 72. in each arm engage theopposite pins. If the arms H or H be merely loosely strung on theaxle,instead of being fastened, they may be moved outof or intoengagement with the pins without turning the axle itself.

The saddle-supporting arm K with horizontal bend k is of a formordinarily used and is provided with a sliding saddle-stand L, adjustably secured thereto, as usual, by means of a set-screw ZI-Ieretofore rocking stands have been provided, by means of which thepitch of the saddle has been regulated, and the tension upon the perchor seat has been generally made adjustable by forming the spring-frame Mof the saddle in two or more extensibly-connected parts.

In our machine both tension and pitch are regulated by the mere act ofsecuring the saddle to the stand, owing to their peculiar construction.The spring-frame M of the saddle may be formed of a single plate ofsteel, as

in Fig. 5, or of a single piece of round wire, as in Fig. 6, the frontand rear ends m and m being in either case connected in any suitablemanner to the seat N and curved or coiled, as at m and m The centralportion at of the base, which rests upon the stand L, is preferablycurved upward, as shown, but to a longer radius of curvature than thetop face Z of the stand, so that the surfaces m of the saddle and Z ofthe stand are tangent to each other at a point which is shifted forwardor backward on the surface Z of the stand as the pitch of the seat ischanged. The portion m of the base, if a plate, is preferably slottedits whole length to permit the passage and adjustment of clamping-boltsp, the heads p of which ride in the T-slot Z of the stand. If the baseconsists of two parallel wires, as in Fig. 6, the bolts p slide betweenthem, and a washer p is interposed between the nut 19 and the wires. Ifthe clamping-bolts be spread a considerable distance and the normal lineof the basem be changed by tightening the nuts and forcing it to assumea form parallel with the curved surface Z of the stand, as indicated bydotted lines,

it is evident that the ends which project beyond the stand will bedepressed, as shown, thus-tending to spread the ends m and m andplacinga greater or less tension upon the seat N, varying with thespread of the clamping-bolts and consequent distortion of the normalshape of the base m. It will be readily understood that the pitch andtension may thus be simultaneously adjusted by merely rocking the saddleon the stand and properly spacing the clamping-bolts. The advantage ofcurving both the base and the supportingsurface of the stand is that thesaddle is less likely to slip when clamped.

Another common source of inconvenience and trouble with bicycles andsimilar vehicles arises from the difficulty,with present means ofattachment, of maintaining a perfectly tight connection of thepedal-crank with its shaft. To overcome this trouble, we construct andattach the crank G to the shaft g in the manner indicated in Fig. 9. Thecrank-hub is bored to a diameter somewhat larger than the shaft, and isslotted or split, preferably as shown at 9 to permit the closure of thehubbore by means of a somewhat loosely-fittingtransverse bolt g Insteadof clamping the hub-bore tightly against the surface of the shaft,however, as is ordinarily done, we carefully avoid bringing the twosurfaces in direct contact, but instead concentrate the whole clampingenergy at the points g. This we accomplish by correspondingly groovingthe hub-bore and shaft longitudinally, as shown, and introducing pins g,which, while preventing contact of the hub-bore with the shaft, serve toeffectually prevent the crank from turning thereon when the pinsproperly fill the grooves. This proper fit of the pins is readilysecured at any time in' our construction by drawing up the nut 9 thewhole IIO face of the clamping energy thus developed being expended atthe points g only,instead of being distributed over the whole surface ofthe bare and its bearing on the shaft, and consequently permitting thepins or the grooved portion of the hub or shaft to be sufficientlydistorted by the pressure to take up any lost motion that might bedeveloped by service; and in order to thus secure the perfect fit of thepins g it is evidently essential that the hub-bore should be slightlylarger than the shaft, as otherwise it would be impossible to close thebore and press the pins into the grooves, as required.

Another feature of our invention relates to the construction of thehandles. The rapid vibration or quivering caused by the movement of themachine even on smooth roads is generally recognized as most annoyingand objectionable, owing to the numbness produced in the hands of theoperator by the constant and firm grip required. Even when thespring-fork is used it does not overcome this, and attempts have beenmade to provide a satisfactory elastic handle. For this purpose theyhave been formed of elastic rubber, either solid or with an air-chamber,but the use of such has been practically abandoned as unsatisfactory.lVe have found that the trouble with these elastic handles. has been notthat their elasticity does not materially reduce the jar and consequentnumbing tendency, but that the hand fits too closely to the rubbersurface, thus excluding all air and causing it to become clammy andunpleasant in feeling and in odor. We have endeavored to overcome theseobjections and still secure the desired elasticity, and to accomplishthis have merely provided a core r of elastic rubber or equivalentmaterial and have covered the surface with a fibrous fabric a", such asfelt or linen, either woven in tubular braid and drawn overthe core,orthread wound separately around it with which the hand comes in contact,and which, without interfering with the elasticity of the handle,prevents the conduction of heat to the rubber, and thus avoids thedisagreeable odor produced if the hand is directly in contact with it,absorbs the perspiration which causes the clammy and unpleasantsensation referred to, and provides a more agreeable and firmer holdthan can be secured with any other than a porous absorbentnon-conducting material, such as described.

lVe do not broadly claim the spring-fork arrangement shown nor thespecial chain-adjusting arm described, except when used in duplicate, soas to produce a positively parallel movement of the axle to which theyare secured. lVe are aware, also, that it is not broadly new toadjustably secure a saddle having a curved base to a suitablesupportingstand; but what we do wish to claim as our invention,including such modifications of construction as may be readily devisedby an expert, is specifically set forth in the following claims.

What we claim is '1. In a cycle, the combination, with asaddle-supporting stand, of a saddle having an elastic base formingnormally a tangent with the supporting-surface of the stand, andadjustable clamping mechanism adapted to distort the normal shape ofsaid elastic base in clamping the same to the stand, substantially asset forth.

2. In a cycle, the combination, with a saddle-supporting stand, of asaddle having an elastic base forming a tangent with thesupporting-surface of the stand, a seat connected to theupwardly-extended ends of the elastic base, and adjustable clampingmechanism whereby the tension upon said seat is regulated, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a bicycle, a saddle-supporting stand having a curvedsupporting-surface for the saddle and a T-slot therein for theclampingbolts, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cycle, the combination, with a saddle-stand having anupwardly-curved supporting-surface, of a saddle having an elastic basecurved upward to a larger radius than the supporting-surface of thestand,and means for clamping said base to the stand, substantially asset forth.

5. A cycle-handle consisting of an elastic core, as of rubber, and afibrous absorbent covering of linen or other suitable non-conductingmaterial, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a velocipede, the combination, with the pedal-shaft having threeor more longitudinal grooves, of the crank having acorrespondingly-grooved hub-borelooselyinclosing the shaft and a slot inthe crank extending from said bore, pins entered in the grooves, and aclamping-bolt, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

GEO. WV. MEIGS. JOHN GEORGE ZIEGLER.

Witnesses:

H. P. KEISER, J. H. J ACOBS.

